Promise Hill S1 Ep 7 Facing What You've been Avoiding (The Walk, the Wood, and the Fire)

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Welcome back to Promise Hill.

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This is Chapter 7,

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The Walk,

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The Wood,

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and The Fire.

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Hello,

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I'm Kimberly Herman,

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your host.

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I want you to know that I made this podcast in this way,

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by mixing fiction with self-care.

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care because it's something I wish I had when I was younger.

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I could have really used something that held my attention and helped me understand myself through stories.

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I hope this blesses you.

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In our last episode,

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Mira arrived at Grandma Eden's with a photo of her and Jackson,

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not knowing if she was ready to face what it stirred up.

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Over tea,

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Eden reminded her that healing can't be rushed and gave her a soul care kit glowing in the dark.

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And we can't forget about the mysterious text.

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And let me just say,

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today's episode holds a little more heat,

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a little more heart,

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and a few unexpected turns.

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I'll meet you on the other side of the story with reflections,

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live it out action steps,

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and prayer.

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Let's listen in.

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That strange text from the day before hung over Mira like a blanket as she woke up this morning.

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She rolled out of bed.

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got dressed,

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and sat in her living room letting the thoughts swirl in her mind.

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I'm afraid to read the text response,

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but if I am going to grow,

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I need to start doing things differently,

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especially when they're hard and out of my comfort.

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Okay,

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here we go.

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Mira reached for her phone and read the response.

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It's too much to tell you over text.

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Would you be willing to meet me at the lake in Whispering Pines?

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Oh gosh.

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Meat?

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I need a morning walk to clear my mind.

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I know.

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I'll walk to the Daily Bread for some fresh coffee and catch up with Charity.

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That sounds perfect.

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It was a bright morning,

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with crisp gusts of wind that softly brushed Mira as she strolled downtown.

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The rhythmic sound of a saw cutting through wood caught her attention.

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It was Nathaniel Ember's woodworking shop,

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Ember and Oak,

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across the street from Charity's Bakery.

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The door was open,

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revealing the scent of fresh-cut timber and varnish.

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She stepped over the threshold and found Nathaniel at his workbench,

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running his hand over the smooth grain of a half-carved chair leg.

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He looked up,

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his expression warm but perceptive.

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Hi there,

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Mira.

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It's good to see you again.

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How can I help you on this beautiful sunny morning?

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Um,

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I wasn't planning on stopping by,

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but your shop drew me in.

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It's peaceful here.

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Nathaniel nodded,

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setting down his chisel.

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I have to agree.

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Wood has a way of teaching patience,

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which brings calm.

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Every piece has imperfections.

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A good carpenter doesn't throw it away.

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He shapes it.

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Mira let those words settle.

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She ran her fingers over a carved armrest,

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feeling the grooves and curves,

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the careful touch that had shaped it.

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But what if something's too damaged,

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too warped?

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Nathaniel smiled gently.

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Well,

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even the most broken wood has purpose.

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Sometimes it just needs a different use.

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A sudden clang from outside behind the shop made Mira jump.

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She turned toward the open rear door,

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where the unmistakable sound of metal striking metal rang out.

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She stepped outside and saw a large man.

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His ginger wavy hair blew in the soft wind as he was at his forge,

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hammering a glowing piece of iron with sharp,

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forceful strikes.

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The heat from the fire flickered in his eyes,

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and the intensity in his movements told her that whatever he was forging,

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it was more than just metal.

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Nathaniel walked over to join her.

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That's Gideon Thorne.

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He comes off a little gruff,

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but he's a good man.

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and an excellent iron craftsman.

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Mira studied the tension in his shoulders,

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the way his grip tightened around the hammer.

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Just then,

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Gideon turned around and noticed Mira.

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He thought to himself that it looked like she was standing in a fire herself.

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Gideon knew all too well what that feels like.

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He turned the cooled iron in his hands and loudly shared,

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Metal doesn't always cooperate.

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Sometimes it bends wrong,

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cracks under pressure.

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He turned it over again,

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testing its strength.

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Doesn't mean it's useless.

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Just means you have to go back to the fire and try again.

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Mira swallowed,

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hearing something deeper in his words.

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And what if it keeps breaking?

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Gideon met her gaze.

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Then you learn how to reshape it.

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A gust of wind swept through the alley,

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carrying the scent of burning coal and fresh bread.

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Mira felt something shift in her soul.

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Maybe there was something to be learned here.

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Maybe she wasn't as alone in the fire as she thought.

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As Mira turned to leave,

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She caught one last glance at Gideon,

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still holding the iron in his hands.

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He wasn't just shaping the metal,

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he was shaping himself.

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And maybe,

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in some way,

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so was she.

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Mira said goodbye to Nathaniel and Gideon,

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and briskly walked across the street to see Charity for her morning brew.

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Oh,

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Mira,

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it's so good to see you.

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I have a hot coffee with a side of a steaming hot croissant,

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with a hint of chocolate,

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just for you.

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Thank you,

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Charity.

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Your food is delicious,

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as always.

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Quick question.

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Do you hang out with Nathaniel and Gideon?

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Not really.

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Charity responded as she wiped small crumbs from the counter.

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Just at church and around town we bump into each other.

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But I'm a bit older than they are.

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Mira sipped her coffee,

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her thoughts drifting as she watched the steam curl up from the cup,

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which felt safe and good.

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But something about this morning had stirred the ashes of something long buried,

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much like the photo and the one she and Jackson she showed Grandma Eden yesterday.

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She glanced out the window toward the woodworking shop and the forge beyond it.

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This may sound strange,

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but I feel like they know something I need to learn.

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Like I was meant to see both of them today.

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Charity studied her a moment.

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Perhaps you were.

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Mira leaned back.

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Charity,

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do you believe things happen on purpose?

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Charity didn't answer right away.

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She wiped her hands on a linen towel and leaned across the counter.

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I believe God doesn't waste a thing.

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Not a broken heart,

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not a wrong turn,

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not even a morning walk for coffee.

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Just then,

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a gust of wind pushed through the bakery door before it clicked shut again.

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Mira felt it in her bones.

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Something was coming.

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What can you tell me about them?

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Both are great men with very different life stories.

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Charity spoke as she put warm chocolate mint chip cookies in the display case while keeping her eyes on Mira.

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Nathaniel's been here his whole life.

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His family's all local.

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Salt of the earth.

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He's never been married,

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though plenty of women have tried to catch his eye.

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He seems...

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settled.

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Oh,

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he is.

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Quiet,

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silent.

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Steady?

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One of those men who really focuses on the present moment and his craft.

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You won't get gossip from him.

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And Gideon?

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Charity's smile faded just a touch.

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Oh,

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he is a gruff one,

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yeah.

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But he'd show up for a friend in the middle of a storm.

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His dad raised him when his mom left town,

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years back.

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He lived a few towns over in Lake City for most of his life.

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He doesn't talk about it much.

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Keeps things close to the chest.

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Mira leaned in.

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And?

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Charity hesitated,

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wiping her hands on a towel that was already clean.

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He has a story to tell,

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but it's not mine to share.

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She looked toward the window,

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her voice softer now.

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Let's just say,

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if you ever do hear it,

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you'll understand why he keeps the forge fire going so late.

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And there is something unusual that Gideon does each year.

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Every year,

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on the same night,

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Gideon disappears.

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No one knows where he goes,

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not even Nathaniel.

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He just vanishes and comes back.

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comes back quieter than ever before.

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I'm sharing that with you because when he returns,

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his demeanor changes significantly for about a week after.

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You'll feel like he's angry with you,

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when actually,

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he's angry at his inner turmoil.

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When does he leave?

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Charity looked over at the calendar on the wall.

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It looks like it's coming up...

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In a few weeks,

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right after the Promise Hill Parade.

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Mira's eyes followed Charity's gaze,

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back across the street to the forge,

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where smoke still trailed faintly from the chimney.

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Just then,

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a text came in.

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Mira read it to herself.

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Amira,

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can we meet?

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I've waited so long to find you.

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Charity,

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I've been getting these texts.

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Mira showed her.

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Any idea who they're from?

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No.

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And I'm freaking out.

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But I know I need to do this.

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If I send you my location when I meet this person,

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will you keep an eye on my whereabouts to make sure this isn't a dangerous situation?

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Of course.

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But how about I go with you?

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No,

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I can drive off if it seems weird.

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Mira responded to the text.

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Okay,

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I'll meet you this Monday at Pucker's at the lake at 10 a.m.

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The person responded,

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and Mira read it out loud to Charity.

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They said,

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yes,

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and I will find you.

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And please talk to your mom before we meet.

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She can prepare you.

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Prepare me?

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Oh,

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Charity,

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what in the world?

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This sounds like it'll be a lot.

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Do you have faith in God,

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Mira?

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No.

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Why?

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Because it sounds like you're going to need some peace and wisdom.

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00:10:43.514 --> 00:10:44.735
God will provide both.

274
00:10:45.651 --> 00:10:46.492
Can I pray for you,

275
00:10:46.552 --> 00:10:46.772
Mira?

276
00:10:46.792 --> 00:10:48.193
Um,

277
00:10:48.894 --> 00:10:49.434
I guess?

278
00:10:51.015 --> 00:10:53.918
Charity placed her hands on Mira's shoulders and prayed.

279
00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:55.519
Heavenly Father,

280
00:10:56.160 --> 00:10:59.683
Mira's walking into a potential life change and is unsure what to do.

281
00:11:00.543 --> 00:11:02.705
There's so much going on with a lot of unknowns.

282
00:11:03.245 --> 00:11:04.386
Please give her peace,

283
00:11:04.687 --> 00:11:05.047
wisdom,

284
00:11:05.127 --> 00:11:10.371
and direction as she talks to her mom and meets with the mysterious person behind the texts.

285
00:11:10.792 --> 00:11:11.192
Amen.

286
00:11:12.233 --> 00:11:13.073
Mira's phone rang.

287
00:11:13.454 --> 00:11:14.034
It was Ruth,

288
00:11:14.334 --> 00:11:14.835
Mira's mom.

289
00:11:15.815 --> 00:11:15.995
Hi,

290
00:11:16.055 --> 00:11:16.295
Mom.

291
00:11:17.295 --> 00:11:17.455
Oh,

292
00:11:17.616 --> 00:11:17.956
Mira.

293
00:11:19.376 --> 00:11:20.716
I need to see you today.

294
00:11:21.557 --> 00:11:22.697
I really messed up.

295
00:11:23.337 --> 00:11:25.778
Please don't talk to Eleanor before you see me.

296
00:11:27.038 --> 00:11:28.038
I'm so sorry.

297
00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:29.399
Eleanor?

298
00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:30.579
Who's Eleanor?

299
00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:36.961
What began as a simple walk for coffee turned into something more.

300
00:11:37.501 --> 00:11:40.682
A quiet window into two lives shaped very differently.

301
00:11:41.442 --> 00:11:41.962
Nathaniel,

302
00:11:42.302 --> 00:11:43.202
steady and patient.

303
00:11:43.903 --> 00:11:44.243
Gideon,

304
00:11:44.643 --> 00:11:45.043
guarded.

305
00:11:45.535 --> 00:11:47.936
Carrying a fire he doesn't yet know how to name.

306
00:11:48.757 --> 00:11:49.577
And beneath it all,

307
00:11:50.018 --> 00:11:50.498
the prayer,

308
00:11:50.878 --> 00:11:51.518
the texts,

309
00:11:51.798 --> 00:11:52.459
the stories,

310
00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.200
pressing at the surface,

311
00:11:54.540 --> 00:11:56.401
ready to break open all at once.

312
00:11:57.322 --> 00:11:59.503
And as for that one night Gideon disappears,

313
00:12:00.463 --> 00:12:02.484
it's coming soon.

314
00:12:03.565 --> 00:12:04.025
Take it away,

315
00:12:04.105 --> 00:12:04.426
Kimberly.

316
00:12:06.967 --> 00:12:11.650
What started as a walk for coffee turned into a holy interruption.

317
00:12:12.510 --> 00:12:14.071
Mira stumbled into two men.

318
00:12:14.555 --> 00:12:15.135
Nathaniel,

319
00:12:15.236 --> 00:12:19.218
the steady craftsman whom she first met at Grandma Eden's a few episodes ago,

320
00:12:19.979 --> 00:12:20.559
and Gideon,

321
00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.160
the guarded blacksmith,

322
00:12:22.741 --> 00:12:25.883
each carrying wisdom wrapped in wood and fire.

323
00:12:26.724 --> 00:12:27.344
Their words?

324
00:12:27.784 --> 00:12:28.845
Quiet truth bombs.

325
00:12:29.966 --> 00:12:31.567
Broken doesn't mean useless.

326
00:12:32.127 --> 00:12:34.349
Shaping takes time and a new plan,

327
00:12:34.529 --> 00:12:36.310
and often healing does too.

328
00:12:38.071 --> 00:12:39.713
Charity dropped a few breadcrumbs,

329
00:12:39.793 --> 00:12:42.935
just enough to hint that there's more to Gideon than meets the eye.

330
00:12:43.375 --> 00:12:45.117
Especially around parade day,

331
00:12:46.157 --> 00:12:48.019
Mira's not just passing through anymore.

332
00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.281
Promise Hill is calling her deeper.

333
00:12:50.901 --> 00:12:51.462
And friend,

334
00:12:52.022 --> 00:12:52.923
something's coming.

335
00:12:54.124 --> 00:12:57.567
One more thing before we dive into reflections and action steps.

336
00:12:58.308 --> 00:13:00.790
You may not want to listen to all the reflections,

337
00:13:00.910 --> 00:13:03.552
and you certainly may not want to do all the action steps.

338
00:13:04.133 --> 00:13:05.294
Don't feel like you have to.

339
00:13:05.994 --> 00:13:07.455
I love to give choices.

340
00:13:08.096 --> 00:13:10.278
And you can use whatever you feel like using,

341
00:13:10.558 --> 00:13:11.659
including nothing at all.

342
00:13:12.391 --> 00:13:13.752
Maybe you're here just for the story,

343
00:13:14.012 --> 00:13:14.952
and that's okay too.

344
00:13:15.633 --> 00:13:17.094
I'm just happy to have you here.

345
00:13:18.314 --> 00:13:20.936
Let's jump into our three reflections.

346
00:13:21.156 --> 00:13:21.736
Number one,

347
00:13:22.817 --> 00:13:25.978
we are not discounted just because we're broken.

348
00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.659
God shapes us.

349
00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:32.662
Nathaniel's words about woodworking mirror how God sees us.

350
00:13:32.942 --> 00:13:34.423
Even with imperfections,

351
00:13:34.763 --> 00:13:36.404
we are shaped by his hands,

352
00:13:36.604 --> 00:13:37.665
not discarded.

353
00:13:38.845 --> 00:13:39.626
Hear it and hold it.

354
00:13:40.066 --> 00:13:41.967
Isaiah 64 verse 8.

355
00:13:42.671 --> 00:13:43.111
Yet you,

356
00:13:43.251 --> 00:13:43.612
Lord,

357
00:13:43.752 --> 00:13:44.492
are our Father.

358
00:13:44.952 --> 00:13:45.713
We are the clay,

359
00:13:46.073 --> 00:13:47.033
you are the potter.

360
00:13:47.454 --> 00:13:49.235
We are all the work of your hand.

361
00:13:50.415 --> 00:13:52.096
So maybe you've been feeling chipped,

362
00:13:52.256 --> 00:13:52.697
cracked,

363
00:13:53.177 --> 00:13:55.758
like life's carved a little too much off the edges.

364
00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:57.039
But friend,

365
00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:59.420
God doesn't toss aside what's flawed.

366
00:14:00.121 --> 00:14:01.081
He gets closer.

367
00:14:01.842 --> 00:14:04.023
Like Nathaniel with a crooked piece of wood,

368
00:14:04.563 --> 00:14:05.444
he leans in,

369
00:14:06.004 --> 00:14:07.285
sees the grain underneath,

370
00:14:07.325 --> 00:14:07.885
and says,

371
00:14:08.325 --> 00:14:09.346
I can work with this.

372
00:14:10.226 --> 00:14:11.147
You're not scrap.

373
00:14:11.495 --> 00:14:12.736
You're not far too gone.

374
00:14:13.257 --> 00:14:15.258
You're still in the hands of the craftsman.

375
00:14:16.079 --> 00:14:17.260
And when God shapes,

376
00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.162
he shapes with purpose.

377
00:14:20.423 --> 00:14:20.983
Number two,

378
00:14:21.844 --> 00:14:23.685
the fire of life refine us,

379
00:14:23.946 --> 00:14:25.087
not destroy us.

380
00:14:26.027 --> 00:14:30.431
Gideon's forge is a powerful image of how hardships refine our character.

381
00:14:31.092 --> 00:14:32.813
Trials aren't meant to break us.

382
00:14:33.654 --> 00:14:35.135
They're meant to make us stronger.

383
00:14:36.276 --> 00:14:37.117
Hear it and hold it.

384
00:14:37.297 --> 00:14:39.339
Malachi 3 verse 3.

385
00:14:40.831 --> 00:14:43.853
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

386
00:14:44.514 --> 00:14:48.376
He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.

387
00:14:49.998 --> 00:14:53.100
If you've ever felt like the heat's been turned up in your life,

388
00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.361
you're not alone.

389
00:14:55.201 --> 00:14:58.183
Gideon's forge isn't just a place where metal bends.

390
00:14:58.584 --> 00:15:00.265
It's where strength is born.

391
00:15:01.226 --> 00:15:01.906
That fire,

392
00:15:02.066 --> 00:15:03.547
it's not there to destroy you.

393
00:15:04.108 --> 00:15:08.431
It's there to draw out what doesn't belong and reveal what does.

394
00:15:09.555 --> 00:15:11.763
God's not walking away when things get hard.

395
00:15:12.184 --> 00:15:14.512
He's pulling up a stool next to the fire,

396
00:15:15.074 --> 00:15:15.636
watching,

397
00:15:15.837 --> 00:15:16.459
refining.

398
00:15:16.827 --> 00:15:21.491
Knowing exactly how long to leave you in before pulling you out stronger,

399
00:15:21.931 --> 00:15:22.472
steadier,

400
00:15:22.652 --> 00:15:23.653
and more like him.

401
00:15:24.653 --> 00:15:26.295
So if you're in the thick of it right now,

402
00:15:26.515 --> 00:15:28.056
don't assume you're being punished.

403
00:15:28.516 --> 00:15:29.998
You might just be the forge,

404
00:15:30.118 --> 00:15:33.160
and that means something precious is being formed.

405
00:15:36.023 --> 00:15:36.623
Number three,

406
00:15:37.304 --> 00:15:41.727
God often uses ordinary moments to prepare us for something sacred.

407
00:15:42.548 --> 00:15:43.408
A simple walk,

408
00:15:43.609 --> 00:15:44.669
a clang of a hammer,

409
00:15:44.810 --> 00:15:46.291
a hot mug in a bakery.

410
00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:50.400
They are all breadcrumbs leading Mira closer to something deeper.

411
00:15:51.101 --> 00:15:53.462
Don't overlook the divine in every day.

412
00:15:55.142 --> 00:15:56.083
Hear it and hold it.

413
00:15:56.243 --> 00:15:57.763
Proverbs 3 verse 6.

414
00:15:58.464 --> 00:16:02.605
In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.

415
00:16:03.626 --> 00:16:06.527
We're always looking for burning bushes and parting seas,

416
00:16:07.107 --> 00:16:08.388
but more often than not,

417
00:16:08.588 --> 00:16:13.870
God shows up in the clink of a spoon or the warmth of a mug pressed between your palms.

418
00:16:14.510 --> 00:16:15.951
He speaks through the ordinary.

419
00:16:16.583 --> 00:16:17.404
Through routines,

420
00:16:17.464 --> 00:16:20.625
through the nudge to stop and breathe when everything feels too loud.

421
00:16:21.606 --> 00:16:22.927
That's what's happening to Mira,

422
00:16:23.467 --> 00:16:24.848
even when she didn't know it.

423
00:16:25.308 --> 00:16:25.788
A walk,

424
00:16:26.108 --> 00:16:26.569
the wood,

425
00:16:27.069 --> 00:16:27.689
and fire.

426
00:16:28.290 --> 00:16:30.331
Tiny moments carrying holy weight.

427
00:16:30.851 --> 00:16:31.692
They weren't random,

428
00:16:31.852 --> 00:16:32.792
they were breadcrumbs.

429
00:16:33.433 --> 00:16:33.973
So today,

430
00:16:34.253 --> 00:16:36.715
don't overlook the sacred just because it's simple.

431
00:16:37.295 --> 00:16:38.696
God doesn't always shout.

432
00:16:39.916 --> 00:16:40.497
Sometimes,

433
00:16:40.817 --> 00:16:44.239
he just clinks the metaphorical teacup and waits for you to notice.

434
00:16:46.543 --> 00:16:46.923
All right,

435
00:16:47.944 --> 00:16:51.206
let's move into three live it out action steps.

436
00:16:51.326 --> 00:16:51.966
Number one,

437
00:16:52.847 --> 00:16:58.170
ask God what the fire is forging and not just what it's burning away.

438
00:16:59.150 --> 00:17:00.731
Hardships aren't pointless.

439
00:17:00.931 --> 00:17:01.712
They purify.

440
00:17:02.572 --> 00:17:04.213
In your journal or quiet time,

441
00:17:04.333 --> 00:17:06.154
list a trial you've been walking through.

442
00:17:06.794 --> 00:17:07.215
Under it,

443
00:17:07.315 --> 00:17:09.016
write three possible things

444
00:17:09.396 --> 00:17:12.498
God could be strengthening in you through it,

445
00:17:12.678 --> 00:17:13.918
such as courage,

446
00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:14.659
humility,

447
00:17:14.999 --> 00:17:15.679
patience,

448
00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.499
endurance.

449
00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.660
If you're meeting with a counselor or mentor,

450
00:17:20.040 --> 00:17:21.861
bring this into the conversation.

451
00:17:22.401 --> 00:17:25.262
Invite them into the refiner's fire with you.

452
00:17:26.462 --> 00:17:29.943
This turns your plan into a spiritual formation process,

453
00:17:30.383 --> 00:17:31.504
not just survival.

454
00:17:33.204 --> 00:17:33.664
Number two,

455
00:17:34.284 --> 00:17:38.206
practice quiet presence for yourself or someone else.

456
00:17:38.926 --> 00:17:42.747
Choose one moment this week to not fill the silence.

457
00:17:42.827 --> 00:17:43.147
Actually,

458
00:17:43.527 --> 00:17:45.549
I highly recommend doing every day,

459
00:17:45.689 --> 00:17:47.511
but we got to start somewhere.

460
00:17:48.471 --> 00:17:52.435
Whether you're sitting with someone who's hurting or sitting alone with your own grief,

461
00:17:52.655 --> 00:17:53.356
don't rush it.

462
00:17:53.496 --> 00:17:55.297
Let this quiet be sacred.

463
00:17:56.238 --> 00:17:57.880
This doesn't mean emptying your mind.

464
00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.322
This means being intentional with the Lord.

465
00:18:00.882 --> 00:18:05.486
I highly recommend using breath prayers in that space if you're alone.

466
00:18:06.027 --> 00:18:07.188
So let's do this together.

467
00:18:07.328 --> 00:18:08.389
So on the inhale,

468
00:18:08.449 --> 00:18:09.009
you're going to say,

469
00:18:09.530 --> 00:18:10.491
God is here.

470
00:18:12.231 --> 00:18:13.192
And then exhaling,

471
00:18:13.472 --> 00:18:14.552
God is with me.

472
00:18:15.733 --> 00:18:16.533
Let's do that again.

473
00:18:17.054 --> 00:18:21.396
God is here and God is with me.

474
00:18:22.777 --> 00:18:27.499
And you can use whatever scripture or prayer you want to in your breath prayers.

475
00:18:28.040 --> 00:18:29.120
But by doing that,

476
00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:36.104
you are being intentional with focusing on connecting with the Lord and just allow him to bring peace to you.

477
00:18:37.545 --> 00:18:38.085
Number three,

478
00:18:38.666 --> 00:18:41.027
look for one sacred breadcrumb in your day.

479
00:18:41.895 --> 00:18:42.875
Before the day ends,

480
00:18:42.955 --> 00:18:48.198
pause and name one ordinary moment that carried unexpected peace or meaning.

481
00:18:49.518 --> 00:18:50.078
A smell,

482
00:18:50.238 --> 00:18:50.879
a sentence,

483
00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.579
a gesture.

484
00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:54.780
Write it down and thank God for speaking softly.

485
00:18:55.941 --> 00:18:56.901
Every once in a while,

486
00:18:57.241 --> 00:19:04.684
I'll walk outside and I smell this beautiful scent of jasmine.

487
00:19:05.425 --> 00:19:05.825
And

488
00:19:06.425 --> 00:19:09.106
I look around to look for a jasmine plant.

489
00:19:09.186 --> 00:19:09.786
Where I live,

490
00:19:09.866 --> 00:19:11.487
there are some that

491
00:19:11.847 --> 00:19:12.467
grow around here.

492
00:19:12.948 --> 00:19:16.430
So I'll look around to see where that plant is coming so I can go pick a little,

493
00:19:16.610 --> 00:19:16.850
you know,

494
00:19:16.930 --> 00:19:21.112
jasmine leaf or flower off so I can carry it with me.

495
00:19:21.853 --> 00:19:22.913
But oftentimes,

496
00:19:23.274 --> 00:19:25.355
there's no jasmine plant around.

497
00:19:25.555 --> 00:19:25.855
It is,

498
00:19:26.355 --> 00:19:30.578
I truly believe it's from the Lord just blessing me with that heavenly scent.

499
00:19:30.638 --> 00:19:32.479
He knows how much I love jasmine.

500
00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:39.223
So look around and just notice what is that sacred breadcrumb that the Lord gave you.

501
00:19:41.427 --> 00:19:42.408
For this episode,

502
00:19:42.608 --> 00:19:43.948
I wrote a blessing for you.

503
00:19:44.429 --> 00:19:46.690
And as I was recording my blessing,

504
00:19:46.870 --> 00:19:50.032
I had this idea of turning it into a song.

505
00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:50.932
So

506
00:19:51.933 --> 00:19:53.153
I did.

507
00:19:54.674 --> 00:19:55.375
I'm not a singer,

508
00:19:55.655 --> 00:19:57.456
and I don't know music composition.

509
00:19:57.596 --> 00:20:03.739
So I did have an AI program help me with the music and find me a singer.

510
00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.420
But I think it turned out really great.

511
00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.741
So I'm going to play that for you.

512
00:20:07.861 --> 00:20:09.322
You can also find it on YouTube.

513
00:20:09.762 --> 00:20:11.003
I actually spent about

514
00:20:11.367 --> 00:20:11.768
I don't know,

515
00:20:12.029 --> 00:20:15.256
20 to 30 hours making a music video to go with this.

516
00:20:15.296 --> 00:20:16.379
So it is

517
00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.099
called

518
00:20:18.260 --> 00:20:19.040
Reach for the Light.

519
00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.921
So I hope this blesses you.

520
00:20:21.821 --> 00:20:24.542
And I'm going to sign off here and leave you with the song.

521
00:20:24.902 --> 00:20:25.663
Until next time,

522
00:20:25.703 --> 00:20:26.103
friends,

523
00:20:26.443 --> 00:20:29.304
may you find peace in the presence and hope on the hilltop.

524
00:20:29.784 --> 00:20:39.168
This is Kimberly Herman cheering you on from Promise Hill.

525
00:20:46.843 --> 00:20:52.287
Reaching the tender places that are blue

526
00:20:53.067 --> 00:20:54.668
Weary, scared,

527
00:20:54.708 --> 00:20:59.011
and worn

528
00:21:03.515 --> 00:21:07.238
May you feel held by grace

529
00:21:07.678 --> 00:21:11.881
Nothing is broken beyond fixing

530
00:21:14.522 --> 00:21:16.864
It's for the love

531
00:21:23.106 --> 00:21:29.147
It's right here in the darkness Waiting for you to see

532
00:21:31.388 --> 00:21:47.511
Hold on to the promises And step into peace May you feel a quiet kindness That does not rush or condemn

533
00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:16.544
is broken beyond fixing.

534
00:22:16.564 --> 00:22:20.766
Reach for the light that's right here in the darkness,

535
00:22:20.786 --> 00:22:22.887
waiting for you to see.

536
00:22:24.648 --> 00:22:31.732
Hold on to the promises and step into peace.

537
00:22:31.892 --> 00:22:35.635
Step into peace.